Display sign



y 6, 1953 R. E. Fox

DISPLAY SIGN Filed July 10, 1950 Patented May 26, 1953 DISPLAY SIGNRichard E. Fox, Glenview, Ill., assignor to General Porcelain Enamelingand Manufacturing Com-. pany, Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplication July 10, 1950, Serial No. 172,920 3 Claims. (01. 40-143) Myinvention relates to a display sign, and more particularly to a. signwherein members containing word forming letters or other insignia aremounted on a background panel in a semipermanent manner.

The invention likely will find its greatest use in connection with storefronts covered with poreclain enamel panels, and in most instances, theindividual letter or sign members themselves likewise will be made ofporcelain enamel metal. However, the invention in its broadest aspectsis not limited to the use of this particular material.

One object of the invention is to provide a display sign wherein theindividual sign members in the sign are semi-permanently associated witha background forming support. The members are mounted in such a way thatthey are not readily removable, but, on the other hand. they rathereasily can be removed and replaced with other letters when desired.

Another object is to provide a display sign that possesses highlydesirable aesthetic qualities and has striking attention-compellingcharacteristics.

Another object is to provide a display sign of this character that canbe made of sheet metal material and be finished with porcelain enamel.The use of a porcelain enamel finish has imposed stringent limitationsupon constructions of this type because of the high temperaturesrequired during the oven firing process. Unless certain techniques arefollowed, such as are described in detail hereinafter, the individualsign members are subject to objectionable Warping as a result of thehigh temperatures. Also, unless certain precautions are followed, theporcelain enamel is likely to crack and chip upon installation of thesign members. Certain procedures forming part of my inventioneffectively eliminate the aforesaid shortcomings encountered due to theuse of porcelain enamel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as thedescription proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawingwhich illustrates one structural form of the invention. It is to beunderstood, of course, that in commercial applications of the inventionvarious details might well vary somewhat from those here shown anddescribed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a display sign embodying myinvention showing three sign members mounted on a background panel;

Fig. 2 is a top view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view. partly in section, illustrating a detailof the invention, and

Fig. 7 illustrates the shape of a partially formed sign member.

Referring to the drawing, my improved display sign comprises abackground and supporting panel [0 that is made of stiff sheet material.If a porcelain enamel finish is contemplated, the sheet material usedshould be metal, preferably of about 18 gauge. A panel of thisthickness, when provided with the presently to be described marginalflanges, does not warp appreciably during the firing process.

Panel ID in the usual case is generally rectangular in shape, and it isadapted to be mounted in a vertical plane with the narrow dimensionextending vertically. The upper marginal portion of panel [0 is bentforwardly out of the plane of the panel at an angle less than 90,preferably approximately 30", to provide an upwardly inclined flange II.The free edge of flange Il may be bent back upon itself forreinforcement as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Panel [0 also preferably haslateral flanges I 2 for the purpose of reinforcement and toprovideproper juncture with horizontally adjacent panels. The lower marginalportion of panel I0 is bent to provide a flange l3 along the bottom ofthe panel. Flange [3 preferably is generally arcuate in shape, and, aslater described, the flange forms one element of a spring actuated lock.

Panel I0 is provided with suitable means such as slots l5 (Figs. 3 and4) for mounting the panel in position on a vertical surface, such as thefront wall of a building. Slots l5 fit over horizontal members (notshown) carried by the building wall.

Adapted to be mounted in a semi-permanent manner on a panel H] are apluralit of sign members [8, three of which are shown in Figs. 1 and 2;Sign members I8 are adapted to be imprinted vvith letters or otherdesired insignia, the letters P E 2 being shown by way of illustration.

Each sign member 18 comprises a display face 20 which, when the memberis mounted on a panel, is disposed in a plane parallel to and forwardlyof the panel, as clearly shown in the drawing. A letter or otherinsignia is applied to display face 20, and, if the member is finishedwith porcelain enamel, the various enamel coatings should be applied ina manner hereinafter described.

The sign member is made of relatively stiif celain enamel is to be used.Lateral flanges 2| and top and bottom flanges 22 extend rearwardly fromdisplay face 20. Sign member !8 has means for mounting the member tosupporting panel 10, which means take the form of aligned. inclinednotches in lateral flanges 2! which receive inclined flange l i of thepanel.

In order to lock sign member 18 to panel I! in a semi-permanent mann r,bottom flange 22 terminates in a shaped portion 2-: that forms a secondelement of the aforesaid spring actuated lock. The vertical dimensionsof panel lb and sign member 18 are such that shaped portion 24 of flange22 makes a close fit with lower flange l3 of the panel. In fact, bottomflange 732 of the. sign member must be resiliently distorted in order toestablish the proper relationbetween its shaped portion 24 and the panelflange $3. The resilient characteristic of the material in sign memberl8 insures a spring lock relationship between the member and panel. Ill.With metal having the stifiness of 16 gauge steel, it will be understoodthat considerable force must be applied to achieve the distortionnecessary for mounting or de* mounting the sign member.

Upper flange ll of panel in addition to performing primary function ofsupporting the sign members, also functions as a shield to preventrainwater and the like from flowing down over the surface of backgroundpanel ill. This materially reduces the maintenance necessary for properappearance of the sign.

The general appearance of my display sign is enhanced if lateral flange2i and top and bottom flanges 22 of the si n member are inclined withrespect to display face 26, In the illustrated form of the invention,lateral flanges 21 are parallel with each other, and they extend at anacute angle, about 45, with the plane of display face 251. Similarly,top and bottom flanges 22 are pan allel with each other, and they extendat a like acute angle with the plane of the display face.

Fig. 7 shows an intermediate stage in the production of a sign memberhaving inclined flanges. This stage follows use of a suitable die forstamping blanks of the shape shown in the figure. In case a porcelainenamel finish is to be employed, the ends of flanges 2i and 22 are socut that when the flanges are bent to their final, inclined state, therewill be appreciable spaces between adjacent panel ends. Also, theflanges are cut away slightly in the re ion of the corners of displayface 20, as shown at 25. This spacing between the adjacent ends of theflanges and the additional spacing at the corners have been foundnecessary to the proper application of porcelain enamel to the signmember, as will be later described.

A small hole 28 is made in the righthand flange 2|, looking at Fig. "I,this flange being the lateral flange that ultimately is bent underdisplay face 20. Thus hole 28 will not normally be visible in thefinished sign. Hole 23 receives a hook that supports the sign memberduring oven firing of the porcelain enamel finish. It has been foundthat hole 738 should be located generally as illustrated in order tominimize undesirable warping during the flring process.

After preparing the blanks illustrated in Fig. '7, suitable dies areused to bend the flanges into final, inclined position, leaving theaiorementioned spacing between the flange ends. Thereafter, the signmembers may be finished with the desired paint or porcelain enamel, andletters or insignia are applied thereto.

When porcelain enamel is used, the previously formed sign member iscarefully cleaned so that it is properly conditioned for application ofthe enamel. The usual ground coat is applied to all surfaces of the signmember. This is most easily accomplished by a dipping process. Theappreciable spaces left between the flange ends and the enlarged spacesat the corners prevent the enamel oi the ground coat from bridging orcovering the junctures of the flanges. If such bridgmg were permittedthe porcelain enamel would tend to crack or chip in the region of theflange ends. After dipping, the ground coat is oven fired in the usualmanner.

The color or the ground coat is usually black or dark blue, and. thiscolor is highly satisfactory for one of the contrasting colors normallyused on the signmembers.

In one highly satisfactory manner of finishing the sign members, displayface 29 is given a second coat of porcelain enamel that contrastsstriltingly with the ground coat. This second coat may be white. It isnormally applied by means of a screen stencil to display face 26. afterwhich the sign member is again fired. The size of the stencil openingshould be so chosen that the second coat terminates short of the edgesof display face 20. This is for the reason that a second coat is muchmore susceptible to. cracking and chipping than the first coat when theunderlying metal is appreciably distorted. Such distortion occurs at thejuncture of bottom flange 22 and display face 20 when the sign member ismounted or demounted.

Display letters or other insignia are thereafter applied to the displaysurfaces of the sign members. In a particularly effective sign whereinthe ground coat is black and the second coat on display face 20 iswhite, the color red is used for the letters or insignia. Here again ascreening process is used to properly apply the porcelain enamel to thesign member, after which the sign member is again fired.

In all instances of firing the sign member is supported in the oven by ahook passing through hole 28 in lateral flange 2|. As mentioned, thelocation of this hole is important from the standpoint of minimizingobjectionable warning.

The finished sign member 18, it will be noted, is extremely economicalto produce. It involves a single stamping operation for the preparationof the blank shown in Fig. 7. Thereafter, the flanges are bent by meansof a succession of simple die operations. There is no expensive welding,since the thickness of the sheet material is sufiicient to insure properrigidity of the sign members. Furthermore, welding would inherentlyresult in objectionable warping.

Mounting and demounting of sign member I8 is easily accomplished bymerely flexing bottom flange 22. Because of the rigidity of the sheetmaterial of which the sign member is made, considerable force isrequired to bring about the flexing necessary to mount or demount themember. This is adequate insurance against unauthorized removal of thesign members.

From the above description it is thought that the construction andadvantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art. Various changes in detail may be made without departing fromthe spirit or losing the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. -A display sign comprising a generally rectangular panel of stiffsheet material adapted to be mounted in a vertical plane, said panelhaving the upper marginal portion thereof bent forwardly out of theplane of the panel at approximately 30 to provide an upwardly inclinedflange and the lower marginal portion thereof bent rearwardly to providea flange of generally arcuate shape, and a sign member of relativelystiff sheet material adapted to be mounted on said panel, said signmember having a display face disposed in a plane parallel to said paneland forwardly thereof, lateral and top and bottom flanges extendingrearwardly of said display face, said lateral flanges having alignedinclined notches therein adapted to receivethe inclined flange of saidpanel to thereby support said sign member, said bottom flangeterminating in an arcuate shape whereby to interfit in a spring pressedmanner with the arcuate flange of said panel and lock said sign memberto said panel.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lateral flanges of said signmember are parallel with each other and extend at an acute angle withthe plane of said display face, and wherein the top and bottom flangesof said sign member likewise are parallel with each other and extend atan acute angle with the plane of said display face.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sign member is made of sheetmetal and is finished with porcelain enamel, and wherein the flangesthereof have end portions spaced appreciably from the end portions ofadjacent flanges to avoid having the porcelain enamel cover the junctureof adjacent flanges.

RICHARD E. FOX.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,163,750 Grant Dec. 14, 1915 2,230,873 Wagner Feb. 4, 1941

